Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-06-07
lCcpynght. issI. BY Atwood A fofbes.l
THE GOOD OLD TIMES OF A
CENTURY AGO.
BY JuDoE &. +. WHITMAN.
Chapter NJ.
IuE ARREST AsD TRIAL.
Br JUNIOR c. =. wmrrx,S.
Chapter NJ.
rnr ARErsr AND rRIAI..

L
the officers Of the law, toward the discov
cry Of the murderer. Farmer Mssor
had found the place in the NOW wher'
the vsgabOnd had lain. with the egg
shell. aud Apple.cores. lie could nov
understand why the COW did no, give
down her milk. Several pieces Of straw
had been seen in the hut after the dis
covery Of the murder. which bad fallen
from the garments Of the vagabond, and
IL was supposed ,ha, they came from
Mason's barn. The pool Of water where
the bloody hand. were washed, aud the
tracks Of a man made ia the sof, mud
after the rain storm. near IL, were found,
a. we're also similar tracks leading into
the highway where be had started out
on the run.
Tie country was secured in search OF
the murderer. and the person who had
given him ride, on hi. journey 70 the VII
lage, va, able 10 give such a description
Of him. ,ha, the police in Boston, after
carefully investigating the case. came to
the conclusion ,ha, Stephen Bslehsr was
connected with the murder. lie bore
the same name a. the murdered woman,
had been gone away darias that time.
and had come back with sufficient mean,
TO procure = new oaid, from head TO toe.
and live bs,,ef than he had been kno sn
TO do for mon,hs. III, room va, search.
ed and bis old clothes taken into posses-
sion. No spot. Of blood were on them.
bu, there were small pieces Of straw. like
those found ia the hat.
Belcher was arrested and taken 10
all. A. II expecting something Of ,hi.
kind. he W. cool and collected. ani
wisely said no,hing. though pumped by
the police and advised 10 make a COZ.
fession. lie s,oa,ly asserted that be
wa, innooen, Of the crime. ba, would
make no further statement lie sen,
for lawyer simpson aud had long inter.
yies. To him he made q fall And truth.
fal statement. and told him Of the loss Of
the will and hi, iruiilss. efforts 10 find L.
simpson questioned B.lehsr I'LL he was
eoavincsd that be had told him the truth
The lA~ysr assured him Of hi, ability
70 clear him II he implicitly followed bis
instructions. and made no talk with the
cih.er Of The law OF snyoae else. Tell.
ing him ,ha. be would outline = defense,
and when !, va, prepared be would see
him again. simpson left.
Gladly would simpson have remained
uneonnscied with Bs!eher's defense, bu,
eiregm,,.nces had renisred !, necessary
fof him 90 condac, IL. that be nigh, keep
the prisoners mouth shu, from makins
any confession. eoanse,ing him Ia any
way with the deceased Ia the matter Of
the second will. lie fofe,Aw thA, Il
nigh, Be found. ia which case be saoald
claim to be isnorAn, Of is existence, and
innocen, Of any wrong doing. II worse
came 20 worst. he could End the true
heirs and settle with them. quite salts.
fAc,orily 10 his own Interests. Thus hAv.
ing fortified hi. mind ag.ins, eon,ingea-
cis.. be &c, Aboa, the defense Of bis client.
with an industry aud yigor worthy, In
some respects. Of better cause.
Tie prisoaer was taken TO the county
where the murder wAs committed. TO
Awsi, a preliminary hearing before JUS
,iee barker. II took place a, the church.
which was crowded with spectators to
hear the ,n.l. The prosecuting officer
Of the county was in attendance 10 man.
aye the matter for the Commonwealth.
while simpson appeared ior the prisoner.
Belehsr wa. led into eour, by two officers.
and placed in ons Of the pews between
them. lie was asked 10 stand up and
listen TO a complain, made on oath
agains, him for the murder Of Elizabeth
Belcker.
"wha, say you to this complaint. are
you guilty OF no, guilty." called oa, the
magistrate. in loud voice, after be bad
flushed reading IL.
"NO, guilty, sir" responded the prs.
onsr.
"Ars you ready for ,riali"
III am. your Honor" said Beleher.
Then Mr.. Attorney, you may pro-
eeed for the Commonwealth" said the
magistrate. Tha, officer A. once arose
from behind pile Of law books. and
making a mos, respectful obeissnee to
bis Honor. Justice Barker. be began.
lie frs, spoke Of the fac, ,hA, murder
had been committed. in the quiet little
village; Of its discovery; the evidences
Of foul play; the circumstances connect
ing the prisoner q, the bar with the irsg.
edy; and the bloody finger marks, show.
Ing eonelusiyely TO bis mind. that plum
der was the object Of the prisoners visit
TO the hut; and a. showing this beyond
any reasonable doubt. be alluded TO the
fac, Of Beleher having means to buy hin
= new outfit after the murder When
be had concluded hi. opening. the people
in attendance did not have the slightest
doub, Of the guilt OF the accused.
sally Packard. farmer Mason, and
several police officers and Others. were
called for the prosecution and sworn.
The curiosity to hear S.lly's testimony
was great, and second only to the general
interest in the trial. She was the frs,
witness, and testified on direct examins.
ton, tha, she had s,Aid two or three
days with the deceased prior to the mur.
der; that although the crone had had an
III turn, she was in her usual health
when she lef, her; aud related the cir
eumsianess attending her discovery OF
the body.
"shs i, your witness" said the prose-
cutting attorney to Simpson. whea bel
story had been told.
Now the fun began. After asking
few unimpOrtan, questions. which put
the witness quite a, her ease, and gresil,
disappointed Tom Jones, who had hoped
and expected to see the fur fly At ih'
frs, question, Simpson a,ksd:
"what Is your age. my good woman.
"NOne Of your business" she ho,l,
replied.
The spectators laughed.
"whst is your objection to answering
my question. Is it because, II Jour sg'
were known. YOU would have no oppor